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The question was about how well Ted Larsen was playing on the offensive line, and Bruce Arians used it as a jumping-off point to mention that Larsen, when Lyle Sendlein came back this week, would have a “good chance” to be the starting left guard. That, of course, raised eyebrows given that Jonathan Cooper plays left guard. So someone asked, “What about Cooper?”

“He’s in the training room,” Arians replied. “He can’t do anything.”

Later, Arians was talking about Jaron Brown when he mentioned “he’s playing better than some of our starters. There are some guys who need to get out of the training room.”

And just like that, shots across the bow. It’s that time of camp when nerves are frayed and games that count are what everyone is looking forward to seeing. But now the head coach has clearly noticed guys who aren’t able to practice, and if you aren’t practicing, it’s hard not to notice. Some context here: For instance, the two receivers that have been sidelined are Michael Floyd and Ted Ginn and both guys are going to be on this roster. Ginn actually played in Saturday’s game. He’s your return man at the very least, and Floyd is Floyd. But there is little question Arians wants his guys back on the field (and if you remember, Arians has pushed Floyd to get back to practice before.)

In Coop’s case, this could be a goose to get him back, or maybe Larsen is doing well enough to usurp his spot. There is no question the Cardinals want the Cooper who was explosive and athletic in training camp last year, before he broke his leg. He is the long-term vision. But he’s got to show he deserves to be out there, and he can’t do that until he’s out there in the first place. He remains sidelined with his turf toe injury.

“Unfortunately you can’t make the team in the training room,” Floyd said, and making the team isn’t necessarily the problem for some.

Floyd is supposed to practice Wednesday, Arians said. Said Floyd with a smile, “What he says goes.”

— Arians said the starters will play no more than a half against Cincinnati Sunday night. Drew Stanton will play behind Carson Palmer and “we’ll see” if other quarterbacks are used.

— The hope is that LB John Abraham will practice at least some this week. Arians was pleased with the jump-in-with-no-practice performance for new ILB Desmond Bishop, who played 15 plays. “Not as much rust as I thought.” You listen to Arians and Steve Keim and you think Bishop has a good chance to make this team.

6 Responses
to “Beware — B.A. noticing the training room”

It was cool when the Cards signed Bishop, it’s my son’s first year of pop warner (mighty mite) and it has been hard to motivate him because although he loves football he hates conditioning. With his first name being Bishop I showed him the head line, “Cards sign LB Bishop,” and told him, if you work hard we could be reading this about you some day and it was like someone turned a switch on in his head and he had his best practice yet smiling the whole time.

Fox Sports Arizona does not replay the Cardinals game in Yuma, because it is blacked out because the NFL says Yuma is Chargers territory! What is up with that!! The Cardinals need to stake claim to this city, after all it is Yuma, ARIZONA. How does that work to get the city switched over. You all giving up on us down here? The NFL says you are. We are going to the Cardinals Bengals game this week and will be wearing our Cardinals uniforms in San Diego as well. Take care of business Darren!!!

We are closing in on the season opener. It’s obvious that Arians is getting frustrated and annoyed with some players nagging injuries. I don’t blame him for making his feelings known. It’s hard to game plan when you don’t have cohesive units. It’s time to gel and players need to step up if they can. My biggest concerns are Cooper and Minter. Turf toe can be troublesome as well as a pectoral injury. A lot depends on the degree of tissue damage. I hope they both come back soon and flourish like they are capable of doing.